Guard Retention - Supine
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Standard Supine Rear Mount·Bjj_saad·Added by Admin
0:00 Intro to supine guard 1:56 How to deal with grips 4:25 How to prevent the grips 5:42 How to defend against side ste…
Standard Supine Rear Mount
Genusスタンダード仰向け後ろ騎乗位(Sutandādo Aomuke Ushiro Kijōi)
HybridTranslation: standard supine rear mount
Overview
The Standard Supine Rear Mount has the controlling fighter lying on their back with the opponent face-up on top, hooks or body triangle locked in, and seatbelt grip secured. [1] From this position, the controlling fighter attacks primarily with the rear naked choke, using the seatbelt to manage the opponent's hand fighting while the hooks or body triangle prevent the opponent from sliding down to escape. [1],[2] The standard supine rear mount is the most frequently seen back control position in both BJJ competition and MMA fights. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The standard supine rear mount is the fundamental back control position with hooks in. [1]
Lineage
The classical BJJ and judo rear control position. [1]
Competition Record
The most common back control finishing position in MMA. [1]
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Gravity-assisted top control — body weight pins the opponent's torso to the ground
Joints Involved — Attacker's hips (heavy base), knees (clamped for ride control), opponent's spine (pinned)
Force Vector — Downward — gravity plus active hip pressure maximises control and submission opportunities
Positional Mechanic — High mount raises the centre of gravity above the opponent's shoulder line, isolating their arms for attacks
Position & Entry
From guard pass completion — After passing the guard, establish mount by placing knees on either side of the opponent's torso
From sweep — Complete a sweep from guard and land directly in mount position on top
From side control (knee slide) — From side control, slide the knee across the opponent's belly and settle into mount
Variants
Low mount — hips heavy on the opponent's belly, grapevines in for stability
High mount — knees under the armpits, arms isolated for submissions
S-mount — one knee high under the armpit, other leg across for arm attacks
Technical mount — one leg hooked, one knee posted, modified for back-take transitions
Videos
Why Your Mount SUCKS
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Standard Supine Rear Mount·Ffion Davies
Here are a few of my favourite tips on controlling from the mount position, and why you may be struggling in this positi…
The First 3 Mount Escapes You Need To Know in BJJ
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Standard Supine Rear Mount·Brandon Mccaghren
When you first start Jiu Jitsu, you're gonna be getting stuck in the bottom of mount. A lot. Even by people who aren't v…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The Standard Supine Rear Mount represents a position where a grappler controls an opponent from behind while both fighters are on their backs. Bjj_saad emphasizes the foundational importance of establishing and maintaining connection through controlled grip work on the ankles and wrists, stressing that proper positioning prevents the bottom player from escaping via lateral movement. The instructor advocates for specific hook placement above rather than below the knee to prevent paddle escapes, and describes defensive mechanics against both side-step and cross-step passing attempts by the top player. Bjj_saad's teaching focuses on minimizing the opponent's options through active leg positioning and preventing them from advancing past the hip line. Brandon Mccaghren addresses escape methodology from mounted positions, detailing three primary escapes—bridge and roll, knee-elbow escape, and kipping escape—that bottom players can employ from the supine rear mount position. Ffion Davies contributes control principles for the mounted position, including head control via cross-face, elbow elevation to prevent bridge mechanics, hip positioning slightly above the opponent's hips, and knee spacing relative to opponent arm position. Davies also emphasizes bailing out of unsustainable positions rather than clutching desperately. The three instructors collectively present a comprehensive view of the position: Bjj_saad on top-player control and connection, Mccaghren on bottom-player escapes, and Davies on positional refinement and weight distribution.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Bjj_saad — Guard Retention - Supine: Detailed top-player mechanics for rear mount control, including ankle/wrist grip connection, hook placement above the knee, and defensive strategies against sidestep and cross-step passes
- Brandon Mccaghren — The First 3 Mount Escapes You Need To Know in BJJ: Bridge and roll, knee-elbow escape, and kipping escape techniques for the bottom player, including limb trapping mechanics and momentum generation
- Ffion Davies — Why Your Mount SUCKS: Control refinements including cross-face head control, elbow elevation techniques, hip height positioning above opponent's hips, knee spacing strategy, and positional bailing mechanics
Learn This Technique
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Back control is dominant position; enables rear chokes (Danaher 2021)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal, mount scores 4 points — highest-scoring po...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, mount scores 2 points
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal dominant position
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— UWW — Legal, back exposure scores points, pin ends match ...
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal, pin scores points
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Standard supine rear mount: attacker on their back, opponent on top facing up, double hooks in the inner thighs, seatbelt across the chest, with the attacker's head beside the opponent's (Danaher, Back Attacks, 2018)
✓The standard supine position is the reference back-control position for RNC attacks
✓Head position: the attacker's head is on the strong side (choking side), cheek-to-cheek with the opponent
✓Hip position: the attacker's hips are tight against the opponent's lower back — no gap
✓The strong-side arm (over-shoulder) is ready to slide under the chin for the RNC
✓The weak-side arm (under-armpit) supports by controlling the opponent's far arm or assisting the choke
✓From the standard supine, the attack sequence: chin strap → hand fight → slide the choking arm under the chin → lock the RNC
✓The standard supine position is the checkpoint before the RNC attempt — all elements must be in place
✓Drill: establish standard supine rear mount, hold for 5 seconds, then execute the RNC — 10 reps per side
Common Mistakes
!Head on the wrong side — the head should be on the strong (choking) side
!Hips too far from the opponent's lower back — close the gap for maximum control
!Not maintaining active hooks — the hooks prevent the opponent from sliding down to escape
!Attacking the RNC before the position is fully secured — establish all control elements first
!Allowing the opponent to get both shoulders to the mat — prevent flat-back escapes by angling
!Not using the weak-side arm productively — it should control the far arm or assist the choke
!Rushing the choke attempt — the supine position is secure; take time to set up the finish properly
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Pass the Guard — clear the opponent's legs to advance to this dominant position
2Settle Weight — distribute body weight to maintain heavy pressure
3Control Arms — manage the opponent's arms to prevent frames and escapes
4Threaten Submissions — attack to force defensive reactions and maintain dominance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mastering Jujitsu (Renzo Gracie & John Danaher, 2003)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
5CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Community
Athletics
Requires
base stability, heavy hips, ride ability
Favours
heavier build with strong hips for pressure
Key muscles
hip adductors, core, glutes, quadriceps
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent my opponent from choosing which direction to bridge when I'm in mount?
Control your opponent's head by turning it in a specific direction and using your chest to drive their face—this forces them to bridge in only one direction rather than letting them decide left or right. Ffion Davies emphasizes that if your opponent can look square or control their head freely, they have options for where to bridge.
Why should I keep my hips higher than my opponent's in mount?
Keeping your hips slightly above your opponent's hips prevents them from throwing your weight when they bridge, since your heaviest point won't be directly on top of their strongest point. Ffion Davies notes that positioning hips in line with theirs makes it much easier for them to escape.
What should I do with my arms to make mount harder to escape?
Use a 'blanketing motion' by opening your arms wide rather than bunching up tight, which makes you feel much heavier and harder to move. Ffion Davies explains that when you ball up, it's significantly easier for your opponent to turn you, so staying open creates better control.
How do I maintain control when my opponent has their elbows tight to their body?
It's easier to control the position if you establish mount from side control by collecting the elbows in front (disconnecting them from the mat) before transitioning up. Ffion Davies explains that when elbows are already tight and blocking you, the resulting position is much harder to control compared to when they're already separated.
How does the Standard Supine Rear Mount work?
The Standard Supine Rear Mount has the controlling fighter lying on their back with the opponent face-up on top, hooks or body triangle locked in, and seatbelt grip secured. From this position, the controlling fighter attacks primarily with the rear naked choke, using the seatbelt to manage the opponent's hand fighting while the hooks or body triangle prevent the opponent from sliding down to escape.
Where does the Standard Supine Rear Mount come from?
The standard supine rear mount is the single most common finishing position for rear naked chokes in both BJJ and MMA competition. Its prevalence reflects the natural dynamics of back control exchanges, where the controlling fighter frequently ends up on their back.
Is the Standard Supine Rear Mount legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal, mount scores 4 points — highest-scoring position; IJF: legal — Legal, osaekomi (pin) — 10-19 seconds scores waza-ari, 20 seconds scores ippon; ADCC: legal — Legal, mount scores 2 points; Unified MMA: legal — Legal dominant position; UWW: legal — Legal, back exposure scores points, pin ends match by fall; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal, pin scores points
How dangerous is the Standard Supine Rear Mount?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — back control is dominant position; enables rear chokes (Danaher 2021)
How do I set up the Standard Supine Rear Mount?
The standard setup chain: Pass the Guard → Settle Weight → Control Arms → Threaten Submissions.
How do I defend against the Standard Supine Rear Mount?
Standard counters include: Bridge (Upa) — explosive hip elevation to off-balance the top player / Elbow-Knee Escape (Shrimp) — create space by driving elbow to knee and hip-escaping / Frame — establish forearm frames to prevent the top player from settling weight.
What are the variants of the Standard Supine Rear Mount?
Common variants: Low mount (hips heavy on the opponent's belly, grapevines in for sta…); High mount (knees under the armpits, arms isolated for submissions); S-mount (one knee high under the armpit, other leg across for arm …); Technical mount (one leg hooked, one knee posted, modified for back-take t…).
How effective is the Standard Supine Rear Mount in competition?
The most common back control finishing position in MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Supine Rear Mount?
Top errors to watch for: Head on the wrong side — the head should be on the strong (choking) side / Hips too far from the opponent's lower back — close the gap for maximum control / Not maintaining active hooks — the hooks prevent the opponent from sliding down to escape / Attacking the RNC before the position is fully secured — establish all control elements first.
What are other names for the Standard Supine Rear Mount?
The Standard Supine Rear Mount is also known as Sutandādo Aomuke Ushiro Kijōi, Flat Rear Mount, Back Pack Position.